Praying with Our Harvest

Apples for Rosh Hashana

by: Cheryl Kollin

On this Shabbat Breirot just after Rosh Hashana—adults and kids joined us to “pray with our harvest” as we prepared (peeled and diced) a bushel of apples to make apple sauce for Bethesda Cares’ meals program to feed the homeless.

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While we chopped, we discussed Jewish teachings from Deuteronomy and Leviticus on gleaning to provide for those less fortunate and bal tashchit—do not waste. After chopping all the apples, we enjoyed the Rosh Hashanah ritual of dipping apples in honey to wish for a sweet new year. That afternoon, Cheryl was joined by Farm to Freezer volunteers at Bradley Hills Church where we cooked the apples into 35 lbs. apple sauce, which was frozen and will be used later in the year to serve the hungry in our community.